The Top 20 2020 Returning WR Stat Leaders

A number of elite receivers entered the NFL draft after last season, with Ja’Marr Chase of LSU being the clear top returner (until the Aug. 30 news he would opt out) . If you are playing CFF and like to balance your draft with a combination of proven talent and potential breakouts, you’ll likely want to grab at least one of these guys with your first WR selection.

List in Order of 2019 Yards Receiving (2019 Stats – Receptions – Yards – Yards per Game) – Players Playing this Fall Bolded

  1. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU – 84 – 1780 – 127.1
  2. Tutu Atwell, Louisville – 70 – 1276 – 98.2
  3. Damontie Coxie, Memphis – 76 – 1276 – 91.1
  4. DeVonta Smith, Alabama – 68 – 1256 – 96.6
  5. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota – 60 – 1219 – 93.8
  6. Tamorrion Terry, Florida St – 60 – 1188 – 91.4
  7. Tre Walker, San Jose St – 79 – 1161 – 116.1
  8. Jared Smart, Hawaii – 87 – 1129 – 75.3
  9. Warren Jackson, Colorado St – 77 – 1119 – 111.9
  10. Austin Watkins, UAB – 57 – 1092 – 78.0
  11. Jaden Blue, Temple – 95 – 1067 – 82.1
  12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC – 77 – 1042 – 80.2
  13. Keylon Stokes, Tulsa – 62 – 1040 – 86.7
  14. David Bell, Purdue – 86 – 1035 – 86.3
  15. Dyami Brown, UNC – 51 – 1034 – 79.5
  16. Dazz Newsome, UNC – 72 – 1018 – 84.8
  17. Whop Philyor, Indiana – 70 – 1002 – 83.5
  18. Sage Surratt – Wake Forest – 66 – 1001 – 111.2
  19. Elijah Cooks, Nevada – 76 – 926 – 71.2
  20. Tyler Vaughns, USC – 74 – 912 – 70.2

Some takeaways from the Top 20 list:

  • #1 Ja’Marr Chase had more than 500 more yards more than #2 on the list, and almost doubled #20 on the list (1780 to 912)
  • 4 of the top 6 are playing, and 9 of the top 16 are playing this season, was 10 before the Chase opt out
  • Jaden Blue (Temple) had the most receptions of any returning player with 95, next is Jared Smart (Hawaii) with 87
  • UNC & USC are the only schools with 2 players on the list
  • Of the 9 who ARE playing here is the conference breakdown: ACC-4, AAC-3, SEC-1, CUSA-1
  • For a reference point, Tyler Vaughns was #50 on the 2019 yard receiving list, so 30 of the top 50 from last year graduated or went to the NFL